by Donna Dillon
The Snake Pit
The Snake Pit:
Jr. High Can Be Torture
Donna L. Dillon
This book is a work of fiction. Any similarities to real people or events is purely coincidental. Any reproduction of this work without the express consent of the author is strictly prohibited.
The Snake Pit: Jr. High Can Be Torture. 2009 Donna L. Dillon. All rights reserved.
For My Mother
Who Believed In Me.
Chapter One
Life In The Pit
7th grade is hard. Even if you are the most beautiful, the most athletic, or the most brilliant, the pressure is intense to become something that someone else decides you should be. I'm not sure why I'm telling you all this....you're old and can't possibly understand. You went to 7th grade in, what, the 70's?? Okay, I will try to explain this to you in words even you can understand.
What we're talking about here is bullying. All this zero-tolerance, no child left behind crap is just that...crap. Kids run the school and everyone in it. Adults are too busy with their own problems to see what's going on under their own noses. And bullying is bullying whether it’s done by a 200 pound bruiser or the cute little cheerleader next door. Kids are cruel. They zero in on one small flaw and they pound away at you until you conform to their idea of perfection, or drop out of school and hide in a closet somewhere.
I'll admit, I've done my share of bullying. I have laughed and poked fun at the goths. I've pointed and giggled at the geeks. I've even taken a shot at the cheerleaders (they can be sooo stupid.). Face it...some kids can handle it....and some kids wind up shooting up the school. Don't look at me like that, it happens and you know it does. The thing is, I figure the goths, the geeks and the cheerleaders are different because they CHOOSE to be different and, therefore, fair game. And I knew the game was on the minute that Cinda walked into the snake pit.
The snake pit is what we lovingly call the school cafeteria. The snake pit is the perfect place to pick on someone because, frankly, the teachers are tired of us and want nothing to do with us until the next period bell. There are teacher aides milling about, but they are all too busy discussing what their plans are for the weekend then to worry about what we're all doing. Unless there's blood, and a lot of it, they are oblivious. Minimum wage is hardly worth the effort to pay attention apparently.
Me? I have so far escaped the bully train. My father owns Carston Plastics and employs most of the parents of the kids at my school. I have never once played that card, nor have I had to...it's understood that I am off limits. I am neither popular, nor unpopular at school ...I simply exist and observe. Now, back to Cinda. I had heard rumors all day about a strange new girl at school. I had yet to see her, but she made a grand entrance into the pit. Not quite the entrance she intended, but a grand entrance all the same.
A hundred years ago, the cafeteria was once the old gym. The floor is warped and uneven and if you don't look where you’re going, you can take a nasty fall. I watched as this small, dark haired girl trudged slowly along, head down trying to look as inconspicuous as possible, carrying her lunch tray and definitely NOT looking where she was going. It was a disaster waiting to happen.
Then it happened. Her toe caught the uneven floor just right and down she went...tator tots and creamed peas flying everywhere. The whole pit erupted in laughter and the next thing I know food was being flung at this poor creature from left, right, and sideways. I never did get a good look at her face. Not that day anyway.
Did I throw food at her? No. I skipped breakfast that morning, I was still hungry.
Chapter Two
Monster
Well, I don't need to tell you that the fiasco that was Cinda's first day is the stuff legends are made of. She must have gone home because no one saw her again until the next morning. Personally, I was impressed that she came back to school at all.
I have noticed that the girls in my school tend to exaggerate a little. By the time I got home that night I had countless text messages and e-mails recounting the events of Cinda and the snake pit. Some versions had her smashing her face into the floor and breaking teeth and others claimed she had a concussion and was whisked away to the hospital. I did notice that they all had one detail in common...everyone was talking about her face.
Do you want me to tell this story or not??? I understand, Detective, that you have a job to do, but this story is important and needs to be told. Frankly, it should have been told long before this, it would've saved everyone a whole lot of heartache. Least of all, Cinda.
Anyway, where was I? Oh, yes...Cinda's face. Like I said, I had not seen her face at this point, but, according to the rumors around school, something was definitely not quite right. I heard rumors of a car accident, that she'd been kicked in the face by a horse, even that she had been mauled by a bear. Someone even called her a monster.
Well, I am not one for rumors, people may even say I'm a bit on the nosy side, but I was going to get the truth one way or another. It just so happens that Cinda's last name is Carter which puts her locker just two down from mine. I took my opportunity the very next morning.
I waited at my locker, pretending that I couldn't remember my combination when she finally showed up. If I hadn't been looking for her, I might have missed her, that's how quiet she was. She kinda breezed in like a ghost and stood at her locker, head down, her dark hair still hanging in her face. I remember thinking , “This girl is a real loser.”
I had to find a way to talk to this girl...but I figured if I just walked up to her and introduced myself, she would run like a rabbit. So I bumped into her. Literally. She dropped her books and as I helped her pick them up...she looked at me.
I was a little shocked. I couldn't help myself. “Oh, my God...what happened to your face?” I blurted out. She was far from a monster, but her nose was misshapen, kinda flat and the nostrils didn't match. She had these terrible scars under her nose and her lips didn't look quite right. I felt like a creep for reacting that way, but apparently, it's a reaction that she was used to.
“I was born with a cleft palate/cleft lip.” she told me. I had never heard of such a thing. The scars were from multiple surgeries to correct it she told me, and I got the impression that she had many more to go. When I finally got my foot out of my mouth, I introduced myself.
“I'm Charlene Carsten,” I told her. “People call me Charlie.” As I handed her her book, she smiled. Her teeth were in no better shape. I found out later that a cleft palate also affect gums and teeth. But, as bad as her teeth were, and as odd as her face looked, she had the most beautiful big blue eyes I had ever seen. And I told her so.
I meant it, and she knew I meant it. She blushed bright red from the compliment. As we walked to class, she held her head a little higher and I knew Cinda and I would be friends. I also knew that things were not going to be easy for Cinda and Hargrove Jr. High. Not easy at all.
Chapter Three
Harelip
Harelip. That's what the other kids called her. Every chance they got. The very sound of the word makes me sick to this very day, but it never seemed to bother Cinda. It's one of the cruelest things you can call someone...have you ever seen the lips of a hare??? Not the most attractive of things and certainly not one you want referring to your face.
I looked up cleft palate in the medical dictionary. Basically a cleft palate is the incomplete fusion of the facial bones before birth. Now, I ask you this...how on earth is making fun of someone with a cleft palate supposed to help them? It's not like they can go home and make themselves better. But the more I tried to get the other kids to stop; the worse it got for her.
So, I laid off.
I really wish I hadn't. But, I did, and I just tried to give Cinda what I thought was a safe place to fall. We spent a lot of time together during those first few months, either at her house or mine. My mom even said she thought we were joined at the hip. My mom thinks she’s funny.
Then, toward the end of the winter break, Cinda got braces on her teeth. Even with a mouth full of metal she looked a hundred percent better. She started walking with her head a little higher, although getting her to keep her hair out of her face proved to be a much more difficult task.
And, of course, Cinda still had to deal with the snake pit. Kids made fun of the way she ate, the way she walked , the way she talked. It was endless, and I don't know how she dealt with it. But, she did, and her ability to cope seemed to upset one person in particular. Lisa Kellen.
Lisa Kellen. Golden girl, cheerleader, honor student. Everything everyone wants to be...at least if you ask her. If you ask me, I will tell you, beware of poison in pretty packages. If you ask me, and you ARE asking me, that's the girl you need to be talking to. She's the reason for this whole mess...I'm just saying.
All right, all right. Back to the story. Lisa Kellen had a big problem with Cinda and it was no secret to anyone. Lisa has a way of insulting you with such fake sweetness that you weren't sure you were insulted until you thought about it later on. Then you just ended up feeling like an idiot.
Cinda tried to steer clear of Lisa, but, frankly, Hargrove Jr. High isn't that big, and Lisa made it a point to be wherever Cinda was.
Why did Lisa have it in for Cinda? Who knows? I suppose it's a question you'll have to ask her. Lisa seemed to have it all....except for Bobby Thompson. But, Cinda certainly was in no position to go after Bobby in any kind of romantic way; but who knows what Lisa thought. Everyone is a threat in Lisa's eyes. Everyone she couldn't control. Me, Cinda, and Bobby. Bobby once told Lisa to lay off Cinda, and I think that is when this whole thing started spinning out of control.
Chapter Four
The Golden Girl
I don't even know what I'm doing here...I hardly know the girl. Just that she is some kind of freak…she doesn't belong here. That's all I'm saying.
Well, you know...people like her should be home-schooled. Our school got along just fine until she showed up. Walking around with her head down and her hair in her face. And that face…God, who wants to look at that every day?? Not me…it's creepy I tell you.
When I first saw her I figured she must be some mental defect, you know…but I guess she is some kind of genius or something. Whatever. I could be a super genius too if I had nothing better to do than stay home and study. Well, what else is she gonna do? It's not like she can get a date or anything.
Bobby Thompson??? What about him? He sure wasn't interested in Cinda, I will tell you that much. Big deal, so he felt sorry for her and stuck up for her. It doesn't mean anything. Everyone has a moment of charity once in awhile.
Assault? What assault? We did not assault Cinda in the cafeteria. She tripped and fell on her food tray and we were just having a little fun. Please. If we had assaulted Cinda, don't you think Principal Martin would've stepped in and stopped us? As far as I know, no one even got a detention that day. It was just a harmless joke. If she took it differently, that's her problem.
Charlie Carsten...that's who you need to talk to. Another loser. Thinks she's all that because her dad owns the factory. She and Cinda were supposedly good friends…kind of strange if you ask me. Charlie used to be a normal person until she started hanging with that freak and got all weird. She used to tease people worse than anyone, and then she got all high and mighty because she thought I was picking on her little friend. Why don't you ask her about the time she almost broke my leg. She's no innocent bystander...just ask her.
Chapter Five
Principal Martin
Of course, I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Yes, Cinda had an unfortunate first day. I was not here that day, I had a meeting at the district office, but according to the lunch room aides, Cinda tripped in the cafeteria and before they knew it, a food fight broke out. Poor Cinda was so distressed that she went home early.
No, it made no sense to give the entire 7th grade detention...I did, however, insist that they clean the cafeteria. Which they did. There have been no further instances that I know of.
Well, I realize that Cinda's ...appearance...makes her a target. Unfortunately children can be very cruel, but usually that burns itself out after a few months. Kids will generally move on to something new if you leave them alone.
Snake pit? I believe you are mistaken, Detective. We have a zero-tolerance policy on bullying...if bullying were happening at my school I would've put a stop to it right away. We do not tolerate that kind of behavior here.
Lisa Kellen....lovely girl…I’ve known her since she was little. I've never had a discipline problem with her before and I can't believe she would pick on Cinda. Perhaps some good natured teasing was taken out of context. I assure you if any complaints were made regarding this matter, I would've taken care of it straight away.
Well, yes. Charlie did come to see me about Cinda a few months ago, but you have to understand some things about Charlie Carston. She's the only child of working parents, prone to drama and exaggeration. I believe she only befriended Cinda to get the attention she so desperately seeks. I had no reason to believe her story about Lisa and Cinda.
If you have any more questions, Detective, I will be glad to answer them. Perhaps you should talk to Bobby Thompson. I hear he and Cinda became quite good friends for a period of time.
Chapter Six
Bobby Thompson
So, you want to talk to me about Cinda? I'm not surprised, pretty hot topic these days.
Yes, Cinda and I were friends...I can say that now. I just wish I would've had the guts to stand up and say that a few months ago. Maybe then none of this would've happened.
Well, you know, kids at school can be really mean. As soon as they found out I was spending time with Cinda, they came down on me pretty hard. I guess I just cracked.
Cinda was tutoring me in math. She was really smart in math and without her help, I probably would've failed the seventh grade. Plus, she was fun to be with. I couldn't admit it to anyone then, but I really liked hanging out with her.
Well, that's the weird part. She just showed up at my door one day with her math book. Seemed a little surprised that I didn't know she was coming. But I'm glad she did. I can't play baseball this summer if I don't get at least a C in math. My folks were glad she showed up too...they are worse at math than I am.
Cinda didn't talk about school much, but I know it had to be hard for her. Kids are mean, like I said, called her awful names. Harelip, freak...that kind of stuff. She didn't let it get to her, not as far as I could see. I don't know if I could take that kind of abuse day after day. But, what was she going to do? Wear a mask to school? Then the kids would just make fun of the mask. It's endless, and it sucks.
Lisa Kellen. I am not sure what to say about her. I know she didn't like Cinda very much at all, and made no secret about it. Every chance she got she made a point of saying something nasty, or even giving Cinda a little shove into her locker when she got the chance. Lisa's a pretty girl, no denying that, but she's got an ugly streak about her. She always thought we should be a couple, like we belonged together. But, to tell the truth, I don't like the girl, and I told her so. But that just seemed to make her even madder at Cinda. Girls can be really hard to figure out sometimes. I tried to tell Lisa to lay off Cinda, but Lisa wouldn't listen. To anyone.
Charlie is okay. She and Cinda are best friends. She would be the one to tell you anything you need to know about Cinda...she knows her best.
Chapter Seven
Charlie
Cinda cried a lot. Not so much in front of me, and certainly not in front of her mom. She said her mom felt guilty about how she was born, even though there was nothing she could've done about it. But I would
come over and her eyes would be all red, and I knew she had been crying.
The worst thing, Cinda always said, was not the teasing, or the staring, or even the painful surgeries. The very worst thing is not knowing what she was supposed to look like. Her sisters were all beautiful, with the same dark hair and big blue eyes, but that's where the resemblance ended. She didn't look like anyone in her family and that hurt.
Cinda felt guilty for being jealous of her beautiful sisters. She would not have wished this affliction on either of them, but she just wanted to look normal. Not beautiful, just ordinary would've suited her fine. If no one ever turned to look twice at her again, she would've been all right with that. And who knows how close to normal the future surgeries would take her.
Anyway, right after the winter break started, Cinda got an e-mail from Bobby Thompson asking her to tutor him in math. He said that he needed to get a C or better or he wouldn't be able to play baseball. So, she started tutoring Bobby three times a week at his house. After all, it was the least she could do after he stuck up for her at school. Personally, I found the whole thing suspicious, but I didn't say anything because she seemed so happy.